Great Demon Sun Wukong-Chapter 540 - 512 (2.0) Journey to the West_4
"Do you all still remember," he said, "we had agreed that whoever found the source of the stream would be made king? I have now not only found the source but also discovered such a heavenly and blessed place for us all where our tribe will no longer suffer from the wind and rain. Why not make me your king?"
Upon hearing this, all the monkeys prostrated themselves on the ground, bowing their heads in submission, not excepting even the four elder monkeys.
Just moments before, atop the cliff, all the monkeys had seen the Stone Monkey slip and fall, yet as if aided by the gods, he magically soared into the air and disappeared into the waterfall. Remembering the Stone Monkey’s words, "I am here to become the king of Flower Fruit Mountain," coupled with his birth from the Immortal Stone, they all felt a certain reverence for the Stone Monkey.
Seeing the monkeys’ allegiance, the Stone Monkey felt as though he had accomplished a great task. He divided the monkeys into four groups, each led by one of the elder monkeys, instructing them to gather fruits and draw water, to pick flowers and pull vines, making the interior of the Water Curtain Cave a burst of vibrant colors and floral arrangements.
Having settled the monkeys, the Stone Monkey himself found a stone room, closed the door, and began to ponder the mysteries of the Water Curtain Cave.
In the Water Curtain Cave, there were inscriptions and household goods, clearly not naturally occurring. Earlier, when the Stone Monkey had instructed the younger monkeys to tidy up the cave, he found that the stone stove still contained unextinguished ashes! While the unenlightened monkeys might consider it a creation of nature, the Stone Monkey, who in a previous life had pieced together the Journey to the West, naturally thought deeper.
The Water Curtain Cave was not merely a natural abode, and indeed someone had lived there. This dwelling had become empty just a moment before the Stone Monkey leapt in; clearly, it was a grand gift to the Stone Monkey. It is highly probable that the former master of the Water Curtain Cave and the one who bestowed upon him the Taoist Spells were one and the same. But who was this person? Was this cave opened specifically for me?
Leaving behind a cave dwelling and imparting three distinct Taoist Spells to him, it seemed the Stone Monkey had gained quite a lot. But he knew that the Water Curtain Cave was the foundation of the Beautiful Monkey King. The Great Sage Equalling Heaven, who brought chaos to the Heavenly Palace, began his journey here, steadily grew his power, and then confronted the heavenly forces.
The Stone Monkey, having crossed over from modern society, knew there was no such thing as a free lunch. The Monkey King might seem outwardly illustrious, but in reality, he also suffered greatly: the five hundred years of torment under the Five Elements Mountain; the constricting journey to obtain the scriptures that disturbed his peace; the tight band around his head causing him constant anguish; the Pilgrims, each with their own agendas...
All of this began with the havoc wreaked in the Heavenly Palace, did it not? And the role of the Water Curtain Cave in all this should not be underestimated. Without it, the Stone Monkey could not claim kingship, nor would he have conceived the notion to seek immortality overseas, let alone the daring thefts from the Dragon Palace and the ruckus in the Netherworld and the Heavenly Palace. The more the Stone Monkey thought about it, the more peculiar it seemed, but he couldn’t quite figure it out.
Since his arrival at Flower Fruit Mountain, nearly a month had passed, and memories from nearly twenty years of his past life gradually faded away. He only felt that being able to come to this World of Immortals, which he had longed for in his soul, was a great blessing bestowed upon him by the heavens.
And to cross over as the protagonist of Journey to the West—Sun Wukong—was even more a fulfillment of his wishes. Over the course of the month, he had completely accepted the reality of his transformation into a monkey. All constraints from his twenty years in modern society vanished in an instant, leaving him with only the spirited feeling of "The sky’s the limit for the birds to fly."
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With the arrival at the Water Curtain Cave, even though it’s just the beginning of the Journey to the West tale, the mere corner of the curtain that has been lifted already piqued the Stone Monkey’s curiosity to the highest degree.
Water Curtain Cave, Preceptor, Water Curtain Cave, Preceptor... Even in his dreams, the Stone Monkey found himself unwittingly repeating these words. (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to visit Starting Point (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation vote, Monthly Pass. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)
